Housing device, control device, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and method of detecting wireless communication device in the housing device

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-019090 filed on Feb. 10, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a housing device equipped with a housing defining a space in which a wireless communication device for remotely controlling a controlled device with actuation of a movable member is to be housed. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to a control device adapted to be installed in the housing device. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored a computer program that is executable by a processor installed in the housing device. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to a method of detecting whether the wireless communication device is housed in the space.

European Patent Publication No. 3418985 A1 discloses a housing device disposed in a cabin. The housing device includes a housing defining a space in which an electronic key, which is an example of the wireless communication device, is housed. The housing device includes an actuator capable of actuating a movable member of the electronic key. The electronic key remotely controls a locking/unlocking device, which is an example of the controlled device, by actuating the movable member. The housing device includes a communication device and a control device. When the communication device receives a lock/unlock signal from the mobile device capable of being carried by a user, the control device displaces the actuator to actuate the movable member of the electronic key. As a result, in a state where the electronic key is left in the cabin, it is possible to remotely control the operation of the locking/unlocking device with the mobile device from, for example, the outside of the cabin.

It is demanded to enhance the convenience of the housing device as described above.

An illustrative aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter provides a housing device, comprising:

An illustrative aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter provides a control device adapted to be installed in a housing device equipped with a housing defining a space in which a wireless communication device for remotely controlling a controlled device with actuation of a movable member is to be housed, the control device comprising:

An illustrative aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored a computer program adapted to be executed by a processor adapted to be installed in a housing device equipped with a housing defining a space in which a wireless communication device for remotely controlling a controlled device with actuation of a movable member is to be housed, the computer program causing, when executed, the housing device to perform:

An illustrative aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter provides a method of detecting whether a wireless communication device for remotely controlling a controlled device with actuation of a movable member is housed in a space defined by a housing included in a housing device, the method comprising:

For example, in a case where a user who has left the vehicle while carrying the wireless communication device that shall be housed in the housing device instructs a remote control of the controlled device, the user can be notified of the fact that the wireless communication device is not housed in the housing device.

In other words, according to the configuration of each of the above illustrative aspects, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience caused by the fact that the wireless communication device is not housed in the housing device even though a remote control system is supposed to be in operation under the condition that the wireless communication device is housed in the housing device. Whether the wireless communication device is housed in the housing device or not is determined based on the physical quantity that is to be changed in accordance with the motion of the actuator, whereas there is no particular change in the operation itself of the actuator. In other words, in order to obtain the suppression effect mentioned above, it is not necessary to introduce a physical/mechanical change to the hardware configuration of the actuator or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the convenience of the housing device in which the wireless communication device for remotely controlling the controlled device with the actuation of the movable member is housed.

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings referred in the following descriptions, the scale is appropriately changed in order to make each of the illustrated elements have a recognizable size.

illustrates a configuration of a remote control systemaccording to one exemplary embodiment. The remote control systemincludes a control device. The control deviceis installed in a vehicle. The control deviceis configured to control operations of a locking/unlocking deviceinstalled in the vehicle. The locking/unlocking deviceis a device for locking/unlocking a doorfor opening/closing a cabinof the vehicle. The dooris an example of a reclosable body. The cabinis an example of a space opened and closed by the reclosable body. The locking/unlocking deviceis an example of a controlled device. The vehicleis an example of a mobility.

The remote control systemincludes an electronic key. The electronic keyis a device capable of being carried by a user. The electronic keyis a wireless communication device capable of causing the control deviceto perform the operation control of the locking/unlocking devicebased on first wireless communication. The first wireless communication includes transmitting and receiving a first signal Susing a first frequency band and a second signal Susing a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are different from each other. Examples of the first frequency band include a low frequency (LF) band. Examples of the second frequency band include an ultra high frequency (UHF) band. In other words, the electronic keyoutputs information necessary for controlling the locking/unlocking device.

Specifically, the control devicetransmits the first signal Sthrough a communication device disposed at an appropriate position in the vehicle. The transmission of the first signal Smay be performed continuously or intermittently. The electronic keyincludes a communication device including an antenna capable of receiving the first signal Sand transmitting the second signal S. The electronic keyis configured to transmit the second signal Supon receiving the first signal S. The second signal Sis configured to include authentication information required for the authentication of the electronic key. The authentication information is information capable of specifying at least one of the electronic keyand the user.

The control deviceis configured to execute authentication processing upon reception of the second signal Sthrough a communication device disposed at an appropriate position in the vehicle. Specifically, the control deviceis configured to match the authentication information included in the second signal Swith authentication information of the electronic keyhoused in a storage device (not illustrated) in advance. In a case where the matching degree between the two information items exceeds a threshold value, the control devicedetermines that the authentication of the electronic keyis approved.

The control deviceis configured to output an enablement signal EN for enabling the locking/unlocking deviceto perform the locking/unlocking operation, in a case where it is determined the approval of the authentication of the electronic key. For example, the locking/unlocking devicemay be configured to perform the locking/unlocking of the doorwhen the usertouches a touch sensor provided on a door handle in a state where the enablement signal EN is accepted.

In other words, when the usercarrying the electronic keyenters an area capable of receiving the first signal S, the authentication of the electronic keyis performed through the first wireless communication. When the authentication is approved, the usercan lock/unlock the doorwithout performing an operation such as inserting a key into a key cylinder and rotating the same.

The remote control systemincludes a housing device. The housing deviceis configured to be disposed in the cabinof the vehicle. The housing deviceis configured to house the electronic key. In other words, the electronic keycan be disposed in the cabin.

As illustrated in, the housing deviceincludes a housing. The housingis formed of a material capable of transmitting at least the second signal S. The housingdefines a space in which the electronic keyis housed.

The housing deviceincludes an actuator. The actuatoris configured to be capable of actuating, with motions, the movable memberof the electronic keyhoused in the housing. The electronic keyis configured to transmit the second signal Swhen a prescribed actuation is performed with respect to the movable member, regardless of the reception state of the first signal S. The movable membercan be implemented by a button, a lever, or the like. The actuatormay be implemented by a solenoid, a cam mechanism, a rack-and-pinion mechanism, or the like. Examples of the actuation of the movable memberfor transmitting the second signal Sto the electronic keyinclude at least one depression and the like.

The housing deviceincludes a communication device. The communication deviceincludes an antenna for performing the second wireless communication with a mobile device. As illustrated in, the mobile deviceis a device adapted to be carried by the user. Examples of the mobile deviceinclude a generic portable information terminal such as a smartphone. In this example, the second wireless communication is short-range wireless communication.

As used herein, the term “short-range wireless communication” means wireless communication performed in accordance with IEEE 802.15 or IEEE 802.11 standards.

Examples of the technology capable of executing such wireless communication include Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark), UWB (Ultra Wide Band), ZigBee (registered trademark), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). As used herein, the term “short-range wireless communication” is distinguished from “near field wireless communication” performed with a non-contact communication technique in which a mobile device transmits information upon reception of minute power from a radio wave transmitted from a reading device. Examples of the technique capable of executing the near field wireless communication include an RF-ID and an NFC.

When it is desired to lock/unlock the doorof the vehiclein a state where the electronic keyis housed in the housing device, the userperforms a prescribed actuation with respect to the mobile device. As illustrated in, the mobile deviceis configured to transmit a lock/unlock signal LK based on the prescribed actuation. The communication deviceof the housing deviceis configured to be capable of receiving the lock/unlock signal LK. The lock/unlock signal LK is an example of a trigger signal.

As illustrated in, the housing deviceincludes a control device. The control deviceis configured to control the motions of the actuator.

The control deviceincludes an input interface. As illustrated in, the input interfaceis configured as a hardware interface for receiving the lock/unlock signal LK from the communication device. Instead of the lock/unlock signal LK, a reception signal indicating that the communication devicehas received the lock/unlock signal LK may be accepted by the input interface.

The lock/unlock signal LK may be an analog signal or a digital signal in accordance with the specification of the communication device. In a case where the lock/unlock signal LK is an analog signal, the input interfaceincludes an appropriate conversion circuit including an A/D converter. This description may be similarly applied to other signals capable of being accepted by the input interface.

The control deviceincludes a processorand an output interface. The processoris configured to output, from the output interface, an operation control signal OC for causing the actuatorto perform an actuation of the movable memberin order to cause the electronic keyto transmit the second signal Swhen the input interfacereceives the lock/unlock signal LK.

The output interfaceis configured as a hardware interface capable of outputting the operation control signal OC. The operation control signal OC may be an analog signal or a digital signal in accordance with the specification of the actuator. In a case where the operation control signal OC is an analog signal, the output interfaceincludes an appropriate conversion circuit including a D/A converter. This description may be similarly applied to other signals capable of being outputted by the output interface.

As illustrated in, the actuatoraccording to the present example is initially opposed to the movable memberof the electronic keywith a gap therebetween. When the operation control signal OC is inputted from the control device, the actuatoris displaced so as to perform a prescribed actuation with respect to the movable member, as illustrated in. In other words, when the communication devicereceives the lock/unlock signal LK, the second signal Sis transmitted from the electronic key.

The second signal Stransmitted from the electronic keyis received by the control deviceinstalled in the vehicle. As described above, when the second signal Sis received, the control deviceperforms the authentication processing of the electronic key, and outputs the enablement signal EN for enabling the locking/unlocking deviceto lock/unlock the door.

Accordingly, when the usertransmits the lock/unlock signal LK from the mobile devicein the state where the electronic keyis housed in the housing devicedisposed in the cabin, the doorcan be locked/unlocked. In other words, the usercan lock/unlock the doorwith a prescribed operation with respect to the mobile devicefrom outside the cabinwithout carrying the electronic key.

The control deviceis configured to monitor a level of a voltage supplied from a power source (not illustrated) for driving the actuator. The voltage is an example of a physical quantity that changes with the motion of the actuator. Specifically, a detection signal DT corresponding to a drive voltage level is accepted by the input interface.

illustrates a change with time in the drive voltage level caused by the motion of the actuator. When the operation control signal OC is inputted at a time point t, the drive voltage level rises to a first value Vin order to initiate the motion of the actuator. The first value Vis maintained until the actuatorcontacts the movable memberof the electronic key.

When the actuatorcontacts the movable memberat a time point t, a resistance to the motion is generated. Since the actuatoractuates the movable memberagainst the resistance, the drive voltage level gradually rises.

When the movable memberreaches a motion limit position at a time point t, the actuatoris disabled to perform an additional motion. As a result, the resistance to the motion of the actuatoris maximized, so that the drive voltage level reaches a second value V.

When the actuation with respect to the movable memberis canceled at a time point t, the actuatorperforms a motion for returning to the initial state. As the resistance to the actuatordecreases, the drive voltage level decreases from the second value Vto the first value V.

illustrates a state where the operation control signal OC is inputted to the actuatoreven though the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device. The actuatorreaches the motion limit position without actuating the movable member. The motion limit position can be defined by, for example, an appropriately provided stopper.

The change with time in the drive voltage of the actuatorin the state illustrated inis illustrated with dashed lines in. Since the movable memberis not located at the position of the actuatorat the time point t, no resistance to the motion of the actuatoris generated, so that the drive voltage level maintains the first value V. Due to the absence of the resistance, the actuatorreaches the motion limit position earlier than the case where the movable memberis present.

When the actuatorreaches the motion limit position at a time point t, the actuatoris disabled to perform an additional motion. Accordingly, the resistance to the motion of the actuatoris maximized, so that the drive voltage level reaches the second value V.

Since the actuatoris moved while being subjected to buffering by the movable member, the increase in the drive voltage level of the actuatorin the case where the electronic keyis housed in the housing deviceis slower than the case where the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device. In other words, the amount of change per unit time of the drive voltage of the actuatorin the case where the electronic keyis not housed in the housing deviceis larger than the amount of change in the case where the electronic keyis housed in the housing device.

The processorof the control deviceis configured to determine that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing devicein a case where the amount of change in the drive voltage level per unit time caused by the motion of the actuatorbased on the lock/unlock signal LK exceeds a threshold value.

In addition, the processoris configured to output a notification control signal NC from the output interfacein a case where it is determined that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device. The notification control signal NC is transmitted from the communication deviceto the mobile device. The notification control signal NC is configured to cause the mobile deviceto perform a notification indicating that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device.

In other words, in a case where the amount of change in the drive voltage level per unit time caused by the motion of the actuatorbased on the lock/unlock signal LK exceeds a first threshold value, the processorcauses the mobile deviceto notify that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device. The notification may be performed with at least one of a visual notification, an audio notification, and a tactile notification. The mobile deviceis an example of a notification device.

For example, in a case where the userwho has left the vehicle while carrying the electronic keythat shall be housed in the housing deviceinstructs unlocking of the doorwith the mobile device, the usercan be notified of the fact that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing device, through the mobile device.

In other words, according to the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience caused by the fact that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing deviceeven though the remote control systemis supposed to be in operation under the condition that the electronic keyis housed in the housing device. Whether the electronic keyis housed in the housing deviceor not is determined based on the drive voltage level that is to be changed in accordance with the motion of the actuator, whereas there is no particular change in the operation itself of the actuator. In other words, in order to obtain the suppression effect mentioned above, it is not necessary to introduce a physical/mechanical change to the hardware configuration of the actuatoror the like. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the convenience of the housing devicein which the electronic keyfor remotely controlling the locking/unlocking devicewith the actuation of the movable memberis housed.

The processorof the control devicemay be configured to notify the mobile deviceof the fact that the electronic keyis not housed in the housing devicein a case where the amount of change per unit time of the drive voltage level of the actuatorexceeds the first threshold value and the amount of change in the drive voltage level exceeds a second threshold value after a prescribed time period elapses from the reception of the lock/unlock signal LK. The second threshold value may be a value corresponding to the potential difference Vd of the drive voltage level illustrated in.

According to such a configuration, in a case where the drive voltage level of the actuatorexhibits an unexpected large change in a short time due to electrical noise or the like, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the absence of the electronic keyin the housing deviceis notified based on such change.

The processorof the control devicehaving various functions described above can be implemented by an exclusive integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, an ASIC, and an FPGA equipped with a storage element in which a computer program for executing the functions is pre-installed. The memory element is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored a computer program.

The processormay be implemented by a generic microprocessor operating in cooperation with a generic memory. Examples of the generic microprocessor include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the generic memory include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, a computer program for executing the functions can be stored in the ROM. The generic memory is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable medium having recorded a computer program. The generic microprocessor designates at least a part of the program stored in the ROM, loads the program on the RAM, and executes the processing described above in cooperation with the RAM. The processormay be implemented by a combination of the exclusive integrated circuit and the generic microprocessor.